Volu 2
Chapter 103 : Mingfuluo’s Diary, Part Two
From today, ti will be recorded in days.
I’m unsure when Anselm will return, but he’ll likely give three to four years to develop.
He’ll probably return when the outside , or Babel Tower, is on the brink.
He’s adept at exploiting weaknesses… Ivora is too unstable.
In hindsight, relying solely on her protection was dood to fail.
Anselm, how much do you distrust ?
From the start, did you prepare for failure and a second attempt at taming?
…What a headache-inducing brat.
I hope the outside , without mories, won’t piece together the clues.
***
Day 1.
The outside , upon waking, couldn’t accept that day’s rift.
Without my original deductions and key conversations, she couldn’t comprehend why Anselm and I parted ways.
Anselm has left the Imperial Capital, no longer in Hydra’s Domain, all contact severed… the outside can’t reach him by any ans.
She doubts, puzzles, tries to find truth in her spliced mories, but finds nothing.
As expected, she doesn’t fully believe Anselm betrayed her; she thinks there must be a reason.
It’s about as I predicted; I am , even without those mories.
Day 2.
Anselm’s “betrayal” has left the outside in low spirits.
She still can’t fathom the reason, her thoughts leaning toward Anselm simply wanting to ta her.
…Without my many speculations, this is indeed the undeniable truth, but I shouldn’t give up so quickly.
Whether rational or emotional… The outside ’s hatred for Anselm should take ti to build.
She should spend longer grappling with whether there’s truth behind his “betrayal.”
This isn’t normal.
Day 7.
The outside is gradually returning to normal life but hasn’t given up contacting Anselm.
She sends letters to Hydra Mansion daily, contacts its people via communication crystals, even considers visiting, but naturally, it’s futile.
Anselm is waiting for an opportunity; until then, he won’t return or et .
She… hasn’t done what I feared most.
Reviewing the entire past, analyzing every mont with Anselm… if she did, she’d likely rediscover the answers I reached, the worst outco.
But “I” didn’t do that.
Mr. Flal’s creation can’t be flawed; the outside must be identical to , yet she shows no sign of this… it’s not Mingfuluo-like.
Per this trajectory, my attitude toward Anselm at our next eting will be more hostility than inquiry.
This is good, but… this anomaly isn’t necessarily good.
Day 10.
I’ll pause long-term monitoring of the outside and focus on studying these tos.
This library’s collection… is terrifying: forbidden spells from the Celestial Conquest Dynasty that summon abyssal entities; brainwashing techniques effective across two major tiers below fifth-tier; unheard-of ether drive thods; and bizarre alchemical manuals…
rely knowing the truth won’t help.
Whatever drives a divine species like Anselm into such obsession isn’t sothing I can resolve now.
I must beco as strong as possible in these three years to qualify to intervene.
Normal growth won’t suffice; no matter how I train, I can’t beco Anselm’s absolute aid in a few years… I need more cunning thods.
I’ll start narrowing down directions now.
Day 26.
The outside is gradually letting go of Anselm’s matter, or rather, not letting it disrupt her daily life, though she can’t fully stop caring.
This phase will likely last a while.
Her feelings for Anselm will shift from half-believing hope for a reason to believe he truly ant harm, a complete betrayal… if she shows no doubt or reflection in this process, sothing is definitely wrong.
Either she isn’t , or… sothing is interfering.
Day 48.
Progress on chanized armor is smooth; with these tos, many unclear ideas have beco clear.
With my current ability, I can lead the developnt of a material armant within half a year—even without physical experints.
But material armants… fifth-tier crown-level power, isn’t enough.
If I could create an ether armant for Anselm to wear, that might suffice.
Or the third stage… no, that’s too far off.
I’ll aim for ether armants first.
Day 60.
The outside , from every angle, is undoubtedly , but her thoughts and observations on Anselm seem blocked by an invisible barrier.
If that hypothetical enemy is real, it makes sense.
How… absurd.
Fate, could such a thing exist? Is Anselm treating it as his enemy?
…No, I can’t keep thinking this way, or I’ll lose my footing.
But rely considering this possibility makes so fearful, if it’s true…
What kind of terror and despair has Anselm endured?
Day 93.
Everything is on track; the outside , aside from routine attempts to contact Anselm, no longer lets him affect her life and work… mostly.
If it were , I’d need at least this long to recover, but during this ti, I’d exhaust every detail of my ti with Anselm to uncover the truth.
The outside ’s vision is clouded, which is good for … is it helping ?
If fate exists, why would it help ?
If it truly exists, I can’t let the outside be fully manipulated by it.
I must find a way to influence or affect her.
Day 96.
I found a spell in a soul-related to; it’s very difficult to master, and I’m unsure if it’ll work, but it’s better than nothing.
It can now block the outside from seeing the issue’s core, but at any mont, it could expose my intentions to Anselm.
I must gain the ability to sway the situation… studying ancient soul magic must be prioritized.
Day 289.
I’ve found the core key to ether armants, but my current ability isn’t enough to forge them independently.
Once I leave, I might have the capacity to create them fully.
But this may still not be enough… the third stage, achievable only by Mr. Flal, can I do it?
Soul magic has shown preliminary results… It seems that outside and I share the sa soul but are absolutely distinct individuals.
I can barely influence her with most spells from that to; our connection… only tightens when her soul fragnts dwindle, craving my soul.
Thus, I must wait.
Day 327.
As expected… the outside has fallen into the quagmire of violence.
Babel Tower is gradually becoming a workshop for Ivora’s violence; I didn’t foresee this flaw, and the outside has no choice.
The floating cannon’s design is indeed sothing only I could create, and she’s hidden it well… not exposing the chanized armor, but researching it privately.
Is she preparing an escape route?
…Exactly what I’d do.
The outside ’s talent and aptitude are identical to mine; if Anselm returns later, she might already figure out how to create ether armants.
Day 446.
The outside has grown accustod to producing violence; the proliferation of firearms is set… both of us believe this is a necessary sacrifice to sustain Babel Tower, with more to co.
If Anselm’s issue could be resolved, these detours would be unnecessary.
No slacking, Mingfuluo, for Anselm, and for… that future.
Day 497.
In 497 days, I visited Grandfather’s grave four tis; each ti, I encountered beneficiaries of Babel Tower’s alchemical tools around the cetery, all ordinary people.
Even through projections, I was moved… but is this normal?
Fate’s existence makes doubt it’s coincidence.
If it arranged this, what’s its purpose? To make more human?
Indeed, I’ve always been this way, focusing on value, always ready to choose or sacrifice and I see no issue with that.
The outside is the sa.
Coldly speaking… is my desire to save Anselm partly because he’s more valuable than ?
…Probably, I’m not sure, but regardless, Anselm must not be the one sacrificed.
But why would fate want to be more human?
If it exists, it knows I’m watching everything here; what’s the point of making the outside more human?
No… the outside won’t beco more human over such trifles.
What must be sacrificed, will be.
Day 606.
The Ether Academy’s assaults are growing fiercer and Babel Tower’s situation is worsening.
I’m not adept at creating pure violence; mass-producing floating cannons is likely my last ans to maintain Ivora’s protection for six months to a year.
Does this an Anselm might return to the Imperial Capital?
I can’t let Babel Tower collapse; I hope the outside can handle everything—no, she definitely can.
On my end, I should reach the fourth tier in about six months.
Anselm’s treatnt of is almost too generous… he doesn’t hinder my transcendent tier advancent, but restricts alchemical tools, limiting my creations to theory—a fatal constraint.
Unstable tools can’t be used; after leaving, I’ll need more ti to turn three years of accumulated knowledge into tangible power.
Anselm… will you give that ti?
Day 723.
It's been almost two years since I last saw Anselm.
I think of him not out of loneliness but worry for his current state.
Compared to , he’s endured two years of solitude in far greater pain… What has he gone through?
What changes has he undergone?
Has his obsession eased, or deepened?
…I don’t have the luxury to worry about him now.
Constantly viewing myself from this perspective reveals so much more.
I’ve fallen into colder, more detached thinking, and dangerously, both the outside and I here are aware of it… but have no intention to change.
Anselm and I differ only in “self-awareness”; in every other way… we’re nearly identical.
Good news: this version of fits Anselm’s image of a cold, unfeeling person.
Barring accidents, he won’t suspect the outside .
Bad news…
If this continues, one day, I’ll truly weigh Anselm’s value on a scale like a machine.
I’ll beco the image he sees.
I must resolve Anselm’s issue before sinking into that coldness.
I don’t want to change; does Anselm… not want to, or is he unable to?
Day 868.
The third-stage chanized armor now has a concrete concept; these tos have helped imnsely.
In knowledge reserves, the outside and I are worlds apart, no longer on the sa level.
Once Anselm’s issue is resolved, I can prepare for the great change.
If his problem is solved, the new world’s arrival is only a matter of ti.
…So utilitarian, Mingfuluo, you’re becoming the version Anselm despises.
Why haven’t you ever considered purely using him?
He was with you for less than a year, yet you’re willing to go this far for him.
Is Anselm really that important?
I ask myself, and the answer is obvious.
How could I stay in this cold, dark basent for three years, risking ntal collapse watching myself daily, for soone insignificant and disposable?
No matter how utilitarian, Anselm is absolutely vital, Mingfuluo.
Day 900.
Without Anselm, I’ve realized how hard creation is.
As an observer, I keenly feel the pressure the outside has endured these two years.
It’s not just talent… but a gulf in thought.
I can’t communicate on the sa level as these people.
Fully detached, I see the environnt and situation more clearly, which makes doubt—
Does Babel Tower truly have a purpose?
As the bearer of Grandfather’s will, a pioneer for the future, can Babel Tower… and its people, bear this responsibility?
Even Hendrik and the others seem…
No, I’m overthinking.
Too detached a perspective brings unnecessary thoughts.
The outside is growing well, but… inevitably paying a price.
Making choices in the mont is far harder than my observing; she seems colder, more decisive than I am now.
Day 956.
The frawork Anselm placed on back then seems so… accurate now?
I’ve indeed beco extrely rational and cold and the outside , aware of this, has no intention of stopping.
Growing in that environnt, I’ve beco the person Anselm can’t accept—one who’d abandon friends for Grandfather’s ideals.
Two years ago, the outside probably wouldn’t have pondered Anselm’s issues so much.
But observing all this, I can’t accept that outside self.
Is it… determined by whether I personally make those choices?
As an observer, not partaking in her transformation, when our “consensus” reaches a limit, I can’t recognize her.
I don’t even recognize myself anymore.
Day 987.
I found the reason, the true cause of this rift between us.
Because Anselm is no longer by my side, that’s all.
If he were still here, if we were still friends, still striving toward that goal, I wouldn’t have beco… like the outside .
Without Anselm’s companionship, not just creation but life itself has beco so hard.
I’ve had to make so many choices, so many unavoidable ones, just to take one step further on the long, narrow path to my ideals.
If the outside had more choices, she wouldn’t be this unrecognizable self… but she doesn’t, and neither does Babel Tower.
Only now do I realize Anselm was never just a fellow traveler or friend; his help wasn’t just about bringing closer to my ideals.
He cared for , looked after … spared so much trouble, so I never had to worry, fret, or face the dilemma of sacrificing sothing to achieve another.
He understood —when I wanted to do sothing, needed sothing, he always gave the best response at the right ti.
He made … feel truly alive.
So that’s why, after all these days here, I’ve never felt a shred of regret.
Not just because I want to solve Anselm’s problem, but because… he’s so vital to , the irreplaceable only one in my life.
I can’t lose him.
Anselm, where are you now? Are you doing okay?
I miss you.
Day 1087.
Three years are nearly up, still no word from Anselm.
The outside has given up chasing him, seeking reasons for our rift.
She’s poured everything into research; with her current mindset, if she had my conditions, she might surpass in a year.
But is that worth it?
This is with having spent ti with Anselm; without those monts, what… would the original have beco?
Anselm…
Day 1121.
Finally… I heard news of Anselm.
He found his first Contract Head in the North, one with the bizarre talent to bear two Contract Head powers.
Hitana Lansmarlos… How did Anselm find her?
The outside searched countless records, only to find she’s just a village girl.
This situation… is exactly like mine.
Is my guess correct?
Regardless, I’m prepared.
If that girl can help free you, that’s best; if not…
I’ll save you, Anselm, trust .
Day 1137.
You’ve grown taller, stronger, no trace of the child you were.
That girl clinging to you, is she Hitana?
You seem to really like her.
Did you hold her to the sa standards as ?
Or… in these three years, have you changed in other ways?
I hope you’ve broken free a bit from that endless mire, I truly hope.
I miss you so much, Anselm, don’t leave again.
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